Cabinet locking device



Aug. 22,1967 WALHOUT 3,337,281

CABINET LOCKING DEVICE Filed 00%- 21, 1965 BY cZ United States Patent M3,337,281 CABINET LOCKING DEVICE Tom Walhout, Muskegon, Mich., assignorto Browne- Morse Company, Muskegon, Mich., a corporation of MichiganFiled Oct. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 500,010 5 Claims. (Cl. 312217) Thisinvention relates to cabinet locking devices and, more particularly, tocabinet locking devices for use in cabinets having double doors openingat the center of the cabinet.

When relatively wide cabinets are utilized in a particular storageenvironment it is generally desirable to have two doors opening at thecenter instead of only one door hingedly mounted at a side of thecabinet. The reason for this preference is that by utilizing such anarrangement the necessity of providing an open space at the front of thecabinet sufficient to allow the wide door to swing open is eliminated.Also, smaller doors are less likely to become racked in usage. Normallythey are more convenient to manipulate. A number of locking devices forsuch cabinets are currently in use. Each of these locking devicessuifers from one or more of a number of disadvantages.

To provide a positive and rigid locking action it is necessary eitherthat a center post be included on the front of the cabinet or that someapparatus be provided whereby the center sections of the doors may belocked directly to the upper and lower cabinet frame. A mere pinning ofthe two doors is not generally satisfactory as there is insufficientrigidity to prevent the locking device from failing under relativelyslight pressures.

To provide locking action without utilizing a center post it has becomecustomary to provide some sort of means for pinning the top and bottomof at least one of the doors to the upper and lower frames of thecabinet. If only one door is so pinned then the other door is locked bymeans of a conventional locking mechanism to the door so pinned. If bothdoors are pinned no such connection is necessary. Where only one door ispinned to the upper and lower frame it is necessary that some separatelocking means be provided to thereafter pin or connect the two doorstogether. This is usually accomplished by securing one of the doors tothe frame by means of spring loaded clips which are located on theinside of that door and then securing the other door to the rigid doorby means of a conventional locking device. Thus, two distinct steps arenecessary to secure the doors of cabinets embodying these types oflocking devices.

Another type of double door locking device currently in useeccentrically pivots two locking rods to the door handle of the cabinet.The pivot plate also contains a latching mechanism for engaging theother door. In this type of device, as the handle is rotated theeccentrically mounted locking members extend and pass through aperturesin the top of one of the doors and the face of the cabinet. At the sametime the latching mechanism engages or grips the other door. The maindifliculty with these types of locking devices is that after a shortperiod of use the eccentric. action tends to deform or cut away themetal in the locking apertures, thus rendering the handles difiicult toturn and the locking mechanism impositive and unreliable.

It is an object of this invention to provide a cabinet locking devicewhich is not subject to the above noted disadvantages.

More particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide a doubledoor locking device which does not necessitate a center post to achievepositive and secure locking of the doors to the cabinet frame.

3,337,281 Patented Aug. 22, 1967 It is an object of this invention toprovide a locking device whereby a set of double doors may be secured tothe frame of the cabinet by the execution of a one step procedure.

It is an object of this invention to provide a cabinet locking devicewhich does not have eccentrically mounted locking members and thus, toeliminate the wear and friction problem inherently associated with suchcomponents.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a cabinet lockingdevice which is not dependent on the initial turning of a handle.

It is another object of the invention to provide a cabinet lockingdevice which, although having relatively few and simple components, iseffective to secure both of the doors to the cabinet frame at both thetop and the bottom.

These and other objects of this invention will be readily understood byreference to the following specification and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cabinet embodying the locking devicewhich is the subject of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially broken cross-sectional view taken along line II-IIof FIG. 1 showing the locking device in its unlocked position;

FIG. 3 is a partially broken cross-sectional view taken along lineIII-III of FIG. 1 showing the cabinet locking device in its lockedposition; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cam apparatus which forms onecomponent of the locking device.

Briefly, the invention consists of a pair of parallel vertical rods, oneslidably mounted on each door near its free vertical edge. Each of theserods is mounted on the inner face of a door by a pair of backets and isbiased into a door release position by a spring. Openings aligned withboth ends of both rods are provided in the upper and lower lips of thedoors and the upper and lower flanges of the cabinet. A U-shaped lockingplunger having a pair of fingers extending toward and aligned with thetop ends of the rods is mounted at the top of the cabinet. The plungerwhen raised or retracted is withdrawn from the upper lips of the doorsand the rods are positioned entirely within the doors and disengagedfrom the lower flanges of the cabinet. The plunger when lowered orextended projects through the top flange of the cabinet into both doorsand forces the rods down through the bottom flange of the cabinet toeffect simultaneously a positive lock for both doors at both the top andbottom.

Referring now to the figures a preferred embodiment of this inventionwill be described in detail. FIG. 1 shows a double door cabinet havingsides 1, a top 2 and a back and bottom (not shown). The front of thecabinet has an upper facing 3, a lower facing 4, and side facings 5. Apair of doors 6 and 7 are hingedly mounted at 8 on the side facings 5 insuch a manner that they Open and close at the center of the cabinet. Apair of door pulls 9 are provided for opening and closing the cabinetdoors. Preferably, a locking cam assembly 20 is mounted in the upperfacing 3 of the cabinet. Depending upon the necessity for security, thismay or may not be key operated.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 the details of the locking device willbe illustrated and discussed. The locking cam assembly 20 comprises astandard lock cylinder 21 suitably mounted through the upper face 3 ofthe cabinet. The cylinder may be secured to the face by any suitablemeans as, for example, by means of an ICC . expanding clip. As is Wellknown the locking cylinder is a plunger 23 having a rack 27 cooperatingwith a suitable pinion on the locking cylinder in such a manner thatrotation of the key Will raise or lower the plunger. The rack and pinionarrangement for transmitting the keys motionto a lock operation is wellknown in the art. Plunger 23 is U-shaped and has a pair of dependingfingers 26 and 26a. The use of a rack and pinion is illustrative onlysince other motion translating arrangements could be utilized.

Extending inwardly from the edges of the facings at the top and bottomof the door opening are flanges 30 and 30a. Also extending inwardly fromthe top and bottom edges of the doors are lips 39 and 39a. These lipsare parallel to and spaced sufficiently from the flanges 30 and 30a toeliminate physical contact when the doors are manipulated.

Mounted on the inside face of each door is a vertically extending rod,rod 33 being on one door and 33a on the other door. These rods areclosely adjacent the free edge of the doors and so positioned that whenthe doors are closed they are vertically aligned with the fingers 26 and26a of the plunger 23. Suitable aperatures are provided in the upper andlower flanges 30 and 30a and the upper and lower lips 39 and 39a topermit the rods 33 and 33a and the fingers 26 and 26a to pass through.This will be seen on the drawings (FIGS. 2 and 3) wherein the aperturepair 31 through the upper flange 30 and the upper lip 39 of one dooraligns with the finger 26 and the aperture pair 31a through the upperflange 30 and the upper lip 39 of the other door aligns with the finger26a. Similarly, the aperture 38 through the lower flange 30a and thelower lip 39a of one door aligns with the lower end of the rod 23 andthe aperture pair 38a through the lower flange 30a and the lower lip 39aof the other door aligns with the rod 33a.

Each of the rods is mounted on the door by a pair of support brackets 32and 32a through which the rods are freely slidable. Each of the lockingrods is equipped with stop washer 35 and a limit washer 36. Acompression spring 34 is mounted between the lower brackets 32a and thestop washer to bias the rods upwardly. The limit washers 36 are sopositioned on the rods that they limit upward travel of the rods beforetheir upper ends enter the apertures in the upper flange 30. Contactbetween the limit washers 36 and the upper brackets 32 effect thisaction. It is evident that other conventional limit means may besubstituted for the limit washer arrangement.

In operation, when the doors are unlocked compression springs 34maintain limit washers 36 against the upper brackets 32 as shown in FIG.2. When so positioned neither of the locking rods have any section oftheir axial length extending through the apertures 31 and 31a in theupper flange 30 and the lower ends of the rods are withdrawn from theapertures 38 and 38a in the lower flange 30a.

When it is desired to lock the cabinet the doors are closed and the keyinserted into locking cylinder 21. As key 22 is rotated plunger 23 isforced to move downwardly as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3. The fingers 26 and26a pass through apertures 31 and 31a in the overlapping surfaces of theupper flange 30 and the upper door lips 39. The size of the apertures 31and 31a is approximate ly that of the fingers 26 and 26a. Thus, thefingers effectively secure both cabinet doors to the upper cabinet frameas shown in FIG. 3.

As the plunger 23 is lowered further, the fingers 26 and 26a contact theends of the locking rods 33 and 33a respectively and push themdownwardly against compression springs 34. The lower ends of the lockingrods pass through apertures 38 and 38a and thus secure the bottom of thedoors 6 and 7 to the lower cabinet frame. Depending on the tolerance ofthe components, it is sometimes desirable to utilize tubular guidesleeves afl'ixed to the cabinet flanges and door lips to guide thefingers 26 and 26a and the locking rods 34 and 34a into their respectivelocking apertures.

When it is desired to open the cabinet, key 22 is inserted into lockingcylinder 21 and rotated in the opening direction. This rotation raisesplunger 23 and thus withdraws fingers 26 and 26a from aligned apertures31 and 31a. As fingers 26 and 26a are withdrawn the compression springs34 cause the locking rods 33 and 33a to follow the fingers upwardlyuntil the limits 36 abut the upper brackets 32. This results in the rodsbeing held in a neutral position. The doors may then be closed andopened freely.

While the preferred embodiment of this invention has been disclosed asincorporated within a double door cabinet, it should be noted thatunique features of this invention may also find use where it is desiredto secure only a single door. In such a situation, it is necessary onlyto provide a cam having a single depending insert. In such a situation,it is obvious that only one locking rod and attendant positioningequipment would be necessary.

While a preferred embodiment of this invention has been describedtogether with minor modifications, it will be recognized that othermodifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit ofthe invention. Such modifications are to be deemed as included withinthe scope of the following claims unless these claims, by theirlanguage, expressly state otherwise.

I claim:

1. In a cabinet having upper and lower door facings and a pair of centeropening doors hingedly mounted therebetween, said facings havinginwardly extending flanges and the adjacent edges of said doors eachhaving inwardly extending lips which overlap said flanges when saiddoors are closed, the combination comprising:

two series of apertures, the first of said series running through saidinwardly extending flanges and lips on one of said doors and the secondof said series running through said inwardly extending flanges and lipson the other of said doors, each of said series being aligned when saiddoors are closed;

a plunger having a pair of depending fingers, the spacing between saidfingers being equal to the distance between said two series ofapertures;

means supporting said plunger in one of said faces with its fingersaligned with said two series of apertures;

a locking rod slidably mounted on each of said doors, each said rodbeing longitudinally movable along the axis of one of said series ofaligned apertures;

means biasing each said rod into a neutral position withdrawn from theapertures in said flanges; and

means for selectively moving said locking plunger such that said fingerspass into their respective series of aligned apertures, said fingerspassing through the apertures in one said flange and is adjacent doorlips and engaging the ends of said locking rods urging them against'said biasing means so as to move the other ends of said locking rodsthrough the apertures in the other said flange and its adjacent doorlips.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the 60 means forslidably mounting said rods on said doors comprises a pair of supportbrackets mounted to each said door, each said pair having rod receivingapertures centered along the axis of one of said series of alignedapertures.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said biasing meanscomprises:

a spring retaining stop means on each of said locking rods;

a helical spring surrounding each of said locking rods,

said springs being positioned between said spring retaining stop meansand one of said support brackets on each said door.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said 75 biasing meansfurther comprises a limit means on each 5 6 of said locking rods, saidlimit means being positioned References Cited such tlilat heydagut the1other ociif 1saii suppociting b ra ;lk 1e s UNITED STATES PATENTS 3:5:5 g ij g fi w en Sal mg to S are m 732,971 7/1903 Stoefller 312-219 5.The apparatus as set fol-thin claim 1 wherein said 5 E21 1? x 1;

1 means for se ectlvely movmg comprises a lock cylinder 3,199,937 8/1965Mitchell 312 221 means for moving said plunger when a mating key isinserted therein and turned. CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,337,281 August 22, 1967 Tom Walhout It is hereby certified that errorappears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that thesaid Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 3, line 32, for "23" read 33 54, for "is" read its Signed andsealed this 26th day of November 1968.

; column 4, line (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer

1. IN A CABINET HAVING UPPER AND LOWER DOOR FACINGS AND A PAIR OF CENTER OPENING DOORS HINGEDLY MOUNTED THEREBETWEEN, SAID FACINGS HAVING INWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGES AND THE ADJACENT EDGES OF SAID DOORS EACH HAVING INWARDLY EXTENDING LIPS WHICH OVERLAP SAID FLANGES WHEN SAID DOORS ARE CLOSED, THE COMBINATTION COMPRISING: TWO SERIES OF APERTURES, THE FIRST OF SAID SERIES RUNNING THROUGH SAID INWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGES AND LIPS ON ONE OF SAID DOORS AND THE SECOND OF SAID SERIES RUNNING THROUGH SAID INWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGES AND LIPS ON THE OTHER OF SAID DOORS, EACH OF SAID SERIES BEING ALIGNED WHEN SAID DOORS ARE CLOSED; A PLUNGER HAVING A PAIR OF DEPENDING FINGERS, THE SPACING BETWEEN SAID FINGERS BEING EQUAL TO THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID TWO SERIES OF APERTURES; MEANS SUPPORTING SAID PLUNGER IN ONE OF SAID FACES WITH ITS FINGERS ALIGNED WITH SAID TWO SERIES OF APERTURES; A LOCKING ROD SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON EACH OF SAID DOORS, EACH SAID ROD BEING LONGITUDINALLY MOVABLE ALONG THE AXIS OF ONE OF SAID SERIES OF ALIGNED APERTURES; MEANS BIASING EACH SAID ROD INTO A NEUTRAL POSITION WITHDRAWN FROM THE APERTURES IN SAID FLANGES; AND MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY MOVING SAID LOCKING PLUNGER SUCH THAT SAID FINGERS PASS INTO THEIR RESPECTIVE SERIES OF ALIGNED APERTURES, SAID FINDERS PASSING THROUGH THE APERTURES IN ONE SAID FLANGE AND IS ADJACENT DOOR LIPS AND ENGAGING THE ENDS OF SAID LOCKING RODS URGING THEM AGAINST SAID BIASING MEANS SO AS TO MOVE THE OTHER ENDS OF SAID LOCKING RODS THROUGH THE APERTURES IN THE OTHER SAID FLANGE AND ITS ADJACENT DOOR LIPS. 